TORPEDOES AT WARSHIP

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 132, 21 June 1937, Page 7

TORPEDOES AT WARSHIP

Press Absd.

Gerisan Cruiser Under Fire LOYAUSTS RESPONSIBLE?

(By Telagraph— !

— Copyright.)

(Beceived 21, 8.45 a.m.) BEBLIN, June 20. An official coinmunique states that a Spanish Government submarine - fifed three torpedoes at the German cruiser Leip^ig ofi? Oran on the morning of June 15. Two missiles were fired iu quick succession and the third fcalf an hOur later. Another torpedo was fired at the Leipzig on the afternoon of .June 18. AU missed their mark. The cooxmunique says: "It will be the duty of the patrolling Powers to take requisite measures in aceordance with the agreement. Germany, at any rate, is uuwilling to look on the practice of ahpoting by Spanish and Bolshevik U-boats until they seore a hit." When the news was received in Berlin, Herr Hitler was en rpute to Duspeldorf. He immediately returned to Ber« lin, where he co^ferred with FieldMarshal Blomberg, Minister of War; Admiral Baeder and Baron von NdUrath, the Foreign Minister, qntil 3,30 a.m. The conference was fesuaxed today when General Goering, the German Minister of War, who meanwhile had flown to Berlip, participated, The German Ambassador in London, Herr Bibbentrip, infonned representafives of Britain, France and Italy and other patrolling Powers of the incident. The communique stated that the Gommander of the Leipzig reported froxn Oran that the paths of the torpedoes were followed by sound apparatus. A message from Madrid says that ofiicials disclaim all knowledge pf the submarine attack on the Leipzig. A spokesman said, "Too much crejence cannot be placed on the German ailegations after the bonxbardment of Alxneria, which they are apparently attempting to justify. Germany is obviously (seekiug to eway world opini.on in her favour, while her warplanes and JCrupps artillery are bpmbarding Bilbao.' ' A meesage from Gibraltar says that the Nationalist forces wireless stations announce the fall of Bilbao, which the Nationalist troops are catering. A communique states that the Brxtigh Foreign " Secretary, Mr Anthouy Eden, uiet the AmbassadolB of France, M. Corbin, Germany, Herr von Eibbeutrop, and Italy, Bignor Granclyiat, at thc Foreign Office. Herr von Bibbentrop gave an acconnt of the reports received from thc German Government regarding" the discharge of torpedoes at the Leipsig. The repvesentatives undertook immediately to consult thedr Governmente and to ineet npt later than Monday. A Berlin message states that a spokesman said that Germany does npt demand rctaliatioh on the lines of the bombardment of but insists on additional guarantees against a repebition of the attacks, in which she can ccuixt on Italian support. A message from Valencia says that the SpaniBh Government deniea all knowledge of the attacks Pn the Eeipsig. It is stated that Spanish aerial pilots and captadns of warships and submarines have received orders to respeet foreign vessels. A Spanish subnxarine would not dream of attacking a German warship. On the cpntrary, Italian, if not German, submarines sank numerous Spanish merchantmen with the loss of numerous lives. Senor Pxieto, Minister for War, in deelaring that thc German- aliegation is false, says: "I stake my honour on this denial in order to cut shorfc a vil» manoeuvre " ,